Private militias are emerging in this violence-hit metropolis as the law-enforcers appear to have failed to protect the lives and properties of citizens apparently for the want of enough manpower, resources like fuel etc and in most cases the will to eliminate crime.
Notably, the militias claim to have the backing of political parties, including the ruling Pakistan People’s Party. Other parties supporting the armed gangs are PML-N, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulemae Islam-F and others.
The people of Keamari, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, have taken up arms to protect themselves from the robbers who on Saturday when shot dead a shopkeeper when the young-man tried to resist the looting. Before killing the shopkeeper, who hailed from Quetta, near Jackson market the robbers, riding motorcycles, had looted several other shops situated on the Hussain Bux Road.
The killing enraged the area people who, shouting slogans against the government and “corrupt” law enforcers, took to and blocked the M.A Jinnah Road for a couple of hours. Having disappointed by the police, the Kemariites have formed a body called “Islah-e-Muashra Committee” or Committee for Societal Reformation (CSR) to cleanse the impoverished locality from criminals, specially the drug peddlers.
After Saturday’s deadly incident the CSR has constituted a militia that comprises armed area people to guard the neighborhood against robbers and other criminals.
According to a CSR member, the militia would watch the area on rotational basis in various groups, each comprising 10 armed men, after the sunset.
“Around 40 to 50 volunteers would guard various areas during the load-shedding hours that range from 8 to 11pm,” said Haji Gul Muhammad Afridi, a social worker and one of CSR founders. Other CSR founders and members include Asif Khan of PML-N, Tariq Pathan, Noor Shah Jadoon and Maulana Bilal.
Claiming to have taken up arms after being disappointed by the “corrupt” higher authorities in the police department, Afridi said the militiamen would not hesitate to shoot the criminals down at sight. The groups, however, would carry licensed weapons, he clarified.
“This is the responsibility of the state which has, unfortunately, left us on the mercy of criminals who shot another youngling shopkeeper dead just a couple of days back,” he said.
Afridi said the area people with the support of political parties like the ruling PPP, PML-N, PTI, JUI-F, JI and others had were compelled to join hands against the criminal elements.
The CSR official was critical when asked if the Jackson police was alive to the situation. “SHO Zulfiqar Summo is doing a great job for the area but his corrupt higher ups in the police department are hindering his way,” he claimed.
According to Asif Khan, a PML-N leader and an active member of CSR, told Pakistan Today that on the pressure of his higher ups the SHO had left the charge of Jackson police station.
When contacted Summo, SHO Jackson police, confirmed the report saying, however, that it was “personal reasons”.
Khan demanded that either the restoration of the SHO or deputing a scrupulous officer of his character. For his bold action against the drug peddlers and other criminals in his area, Summo has earned a very good name in recent times among the area people. “Summo is an SHO for the restoration of whom thousands of Keamariites had taken to the streets in recent past,” Afridi recalled.
He said the police officer was even using his personal resources to buy fuel for the fuel-scarce police vans to ensure petrol in the area.
The CSR members demanded of the provincial government to support their self-help based approach as the police was lacking resources and the will to apprehend the criminals who, they claimed, were paying bribes or heavy kickbacks to the police higher ups.
